Cardiac surgery with sub-axillary incision
Conventional cardiac surgery has faced advanced greatly throughout the last years, and the focus has shifted from simply performing the operation to the quality of life after surgical repair. In children and young women, the appearance of the incision has been a significant issue since it could seriously impact the patient’s psychology.
Several approaches have been developed to avoid the mid line scar. This recent cardiac surgery method can be performed by approaching the heart via an incision in the axilla (armpit) (approximately 5-6 cm wide) by creating access between the ribs while avoiding any incisions to the muscles, ribs or the sternum. By using tools and endoscopic imaging techniques, the surgery becomes easier, safer and more comfortable for the patient. The safety of this method is well established and it is still used in many open-heart surgeries for :
- Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement
- Aortic Valve Replacement
- Tricuspid Valve Repair and Replacement
- ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) Repair
- Removal of Intracardiac Tumors and similar suitable cases.
Unlike the most common heart surgery which leaves a long scar down the front of the chest, an incision in the axilla eliminates any concerns that the patient may have about post-operative scarring because the scar is invisible unless the arm is raised.
What are advantages of Cardiac Surgery with Sub Axillary Incision by using endoscopic surgical techniques?
- Patients recover faster.
- Hospitalization time shortens.
- Blood transfusion and bleeding risk is minimum
- Post- operative pain and trauma is reduced.
- Patients can sleep in any position after the surgery.
- This surgery provides great comfort for obese patients or patients with sleep apnea because there is no need for lying on the back with the face up during hospitalization.
- After the surgery, patients can go back to their normal routine, they can breathe deeply and cough without a risk of opening of the sternum like open-heart surgery patients.
- Post-operative wound heals quicker.
- Hypertrophic scarring (keloid) which is more likely to occur in surgeries with sternal incisions, is very rare with this surgery technique.
- There is a lower risk of infection since the opening of sternum is avoided.
- Patients can take a plane, drive easily after the surgery. Shorter recovery time allows patients to travel back to home country earlier.
Thanks to our specialists well known in their fields, patients can undergo this surgery in Turkey and return to their countries shortly after the surgery. Please contact us to have a quote and for further information.